News and reports

Health and social care services face big challenges, and if they are to improve, decision-makers must listen to public feedback. Read how Healthwatch aim to help make this happen.

With health and social care services facing significant challenges, Healthwatch have taken stock of the role we can play to help make care better.

With the help of staff, local Healthwatch and partners, Healthwatch England have looked at the steps we can take to make an even bigger difference over the next few years.

2023 marks the 39th year of Volunteers’ Week (1st-7th June), when Healthwatch Halton will join thousands of charities and voluntary organisations recognising the contribution volunteers make across the UK. With this year’s theme of ‘Celebrate and Inspire’ we hope to encourage people to be the change that we want to see and get involved in volunteering in whatever way works for them.

In July 2022, the responsibility for commissioning healthcare treatments for the population of Cheshire and Merseyside moved from clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to the newly formed integrated care board, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside.
Previously local areas made local decisions about how healthcare treatments are commissioned, which over time has resulted in some differences across Cheshire and Merseyside. 

Dementia Action Week runs from the 15th-21st May. Each year, Alzheimer's Society works with individuals and organisations across the UK to encourage people to act on dementia. This year's theme is dementia diagnosis.

Finding out your risk of type 2 diabetes only takes a few minutes, but it could be the most important thing you do today....

NHS England has recently published its "Delivery plan for recovering access to primary care". Healthwatch have outlined what the planned changes will mean for you.

2023's Mental Health Awareness Week is from the 15th to 21st May. This year the theme is anxiety. Anxiety is a normal emotion in us all, but sometimes it can get out of control and become a mental health problem.
Lots of things can lead to feelings of anxiety, including exam pressures, relationships, starting a new job (or losing one) or other big life events. We can also get anxious when it comes to things to do with money and not being able to meet our basic needs, like heating our home or buying food.

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. In the UK, around 147,000 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed each year.
Most skin cancers are caused by skin damage that happens from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun. All types of skin are at risk of sun damage and skin cancer.

On 5 July 2023, the NHS will turn 75 years old. This significant milestone is an opportunity to reflect on the past and look ahead to the future.

The NHS Assembly is now drawing together collective insights on the NHS today, taking stock of recent learnings and highlighting future opportunities and challenges.

A new report has found a worrying pattern of lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and worse health and wellbeing in the North of England.

Health Equity North: 2023 provides a snapshot of the health issues facing the North and adds to a growing body of evidence highlighting the urgent need to address regional health inequalities and improve productivity in the North.

Workforce is a key area for development, as part of the Governments 10 year plan.

A new survey has been devised to capture input towards the development of a care workforce pathway.

The Department of Health and Social care would like to encourage a Halton voice in shaping this piece of work.

Healthwatch researched maternity issues through a national survey of 2,693 people, 42 Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), NHS trusts and GP surgeries, and 20 interviews with new mothers. 
Your experiences of maternal mental health care continue to shape NHS services, with NHS England recently announcing improvements to maternity and neo-natal services.